1. Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa
Simplice Nouala
African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal
Resources (AU-IBAR)

2. RATIONALE
• Peculiar features/challenges of pastoralism in Africa
– extreme and worsening levels of poverty and food
insecurity;
– Political and economical marginalization;
– environmental degradation and dwindling access to
resources (land, water, pastures) and basic services (e.g.
health, education);
– uneven market relationships and increased pressure on
fragile eco-systems
– exposure to climatic risks, diseases, conflicts and
insecurity

3. RATIONALE
• Inadequacy/irrelevance of Responses
– Inadequate governance frameworks,
– ineffective institutional settings,
– Policy biases against pastoralists (e.g.,
development and trade),
– Ineffective interventions because of their
irrelevance (don’t reflect pastoralist realities and
circumstances)

4. RATIONALE
The Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa arises from
the need for a continent-wide platform to effectively
address, in a holistic manner, the many challenges of
pastoral communities
A Joint AUC and the UNOCHA initiative for the development
of a pan African Policy Framework for Pastoralism

5. The PROCESS
Regional
Assessments
Stakeholders
Consultations
Policy
Adoption
by
Political Leaders
Policy
Implementation
Policy Framework Development

6. The PROCESS
• Specialist Task Force was set up (composed of high
level experts from each of the regions) to:
– serve as quality assurance mechanism, providing
periodic guidance at each stage of the process of
elaborating the pastoral policy framework.
– serve as the interface between the technical and
the political setting of the initiative;

7. MILESTONES
• July 2007: Launched in Isiolo, Kenya
• 2008-2010: Regional assessments and
stakeholders consultations
• October 2010: Policy framework approved by
Ministerial Conference
• January 2011: “Decision on Africa’s Pastoralism”
adopted by AU Assembly of HS&G

8. GOALS
– Secure, protect and improve the lives, livelihoods and
rights of African pastoralists
– Advocacy tool for promoting the development and
improvement of pastoral communities across Africa
– Tool for harnessing the economic and technical
resources needed to empower pastoral communities
– Platform for mobilizing and coordinating political
commitment to pastoral development in Africa
– Facilitate engagement with regional and country-level
planning processes

9. PRINCIPLES
Recognizing the contribution of pastoralism to development
Recognizing the rights of pastoralists
Engaging pastoralists in political and policy processes
Pastoralism as a way of life and a production system
The importance of strategic mobility
The importance of regional approaches
Managing risks
Dynamism of pastoralism
Acknowledging & building on existing policy processes

10. OBJECTIVES
Objective 1:
Secure and protect the lives, livelihoods and rights of
pastoral peoples and ensure continent-wide
commitment to political, social and economic
development of pastoral communities and pastoral
areas.
Objective 2
Reinforce the contribution of pastoral livestock
wealth to national, regional and continent-wide
economies.

11. STRATEGIES
Strategies to achieve Objective One:
Recognize the role of pastoralism in development
Demonstrating commitment to pastoral policy development
Integrating pastoral issues into decision-making processes
Acknowledge the legitimacy of indigenous pastoral institutions
Strengthening the role and rights of women in pastoral
communities
Mainstreaming pastoral issues in poverty reduction programs
Service delivery (health, education…)

12. STRATEGIES
Strategies to achieve Objective Two
• Pastoral rangeland governance
• Policy support to mobility within and between countries
• Protecting pastoral livestock assets
• Marketing of pastoral livestock and livestock products
• Financial and insurance services tailored to pastoral areas
• Protect African genetic resources –animals and plants
• Research and extension

13. Thank You
for Your
Attention!